UEFA president Michel Platini has repeated his call for the "triple punishment" of red card, penalty and suspension to be dropped following two controversial dismissals in the Champions League this week. The triple punishment follows when the referee dismisses a player for an offence in the penalty area which he judges has denied an attacker an obvious goal-scoring chance. On Tuesday, Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis was sent off for lunging in on his Argentine compatriot Lionel Messi of Barcelona and on Wednesday Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was dismissed for clattering into Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben. Both City and Arsenal, reduced to 10 men for sizeable periods of their games were both beaten 2-0 at home by their opponents, making their progress in the competition unlikely. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said that Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli had "killed the game" by sending off Szczesny.

"For 15 years we have been trying to change this rule. All the technical committees of UEFA and FIFA are against this but when it has gone to the International Board it doesn't change," Platini told a news conference on Saturday before the draw for the qualifying rounds of Euro 2016. "Arsene Wenger said the referee killed the game but the referee had no choice - he has to respect this stupid rule." UEFA's executive committee has proposed the issue is included on the agenda at next week's meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game's ultimate law-making body. "I am against it, and I want it to be changed," Platini said. He has previously outlined other possible sanctions and he would also prefer the referee to have more discretion and that the award of a penalty does not automatically mean he has to issue a red card. "I would change the system of cautions," he said in December. "I would do it like in rugby, where the perpetrator would be punished by being off the pitch for 10 or 15 minutes of the game". That means the team they are facing would benefit in the same match.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter will chair next week's IFAB meeting in Switzerland and he has a different view from Platini, maintaining the sanction is a fit and proper punishment. The IFAB, comprising four voting members from FIFA and four from the British associations, needs a 75 per cent majority for a law to be changed. However, UEFA is pressing ahead with its plans to try to have the law amended. "The Executive Committee has asked IFAB to address the issue and clarify the situation at their next meeting so that there are no more red cards for fouls committed inside the box," general secretary Gianni Infantino said. "We need to resolve the issue of the 'triple punishment' once and for all. Everyone is talking about it and feels it is an injustice".Source: Reuters

'Do me a favour and call the game off': Former ref Gallagher lifts lid on Fergie's cheeky tactics with officials. Dermot Gallagher claims Sir Alex Ferguson asked him to call game off against Middlesbrough in 1997. Former ref says ex-United boss wanted fixture replayed to help with title bid.

Former referee Dermot Gallagher has lifted the lid on Sir Alex Ferguson's intimidation tactics. And, with figures showing 'Fergie Time' has been slashed since the Scot's departure, the official has revealed the pressure referees were under during Manchester United home matches. Gallagher recalls one particular episode when United were chasing the title in 1997 - which they duly won - and welcomed Middlesbrough to a sodden Old Trafford. 'It was chucking it down with rain and Fergie pulled me aside and said “do me a favour, call the game off’," Gallagher told Sportlobster TV. 'I asked why and he said “there’s nowhere else to fit this game in and the Premier League will have to extend the season. We’ll have a better chance of winning the match and we’ll win the league at Old Trafford”. 'At half time United were losing 3-1 and the pitch was like a swimming pool. As we came off he said “I know we’re 3-1 down but please call it off, we could do with a hand here”. 'They managed to pull it back to 3-3 and in the last minute Dennis Irwin ran into the box and went down in front of the Stretford End and I only gave a goal kick. 'At full-time Fergie sprinted across the pitch and shouted at me furiously. My wife said, “Fergie had a right go at you about that penalty didn’t he”. 'I told her he hadn’t mentioned the penalty. She asked why he came tearing across the pitch at me then. The truth is he ran over and asked me if I was going out to dinner that night. I said “no” and he asked “why are we leaving so early then?”.' Indeed, Ferguson's ability to squeeze every last second out of officials when his side were losing has since been highlighted. With United trailing at Old Trafford under their former boss, an average of 79 seconds extra was played in added time. However, this compares to just 40 seconds extra under his successor David Moyes.Gallagher went on to reveal the anxiety caused by not awarding key decisions to United. 'Years and years ago one of the referees had a heart monitor on during a match at Old Trafford,' he explained. 'They were assessing it and suddenly it jumped and went through the roof. They looked at the DVD and he’d just turned down a penalty in front of the Stretford End. The pressure is immense.'

On 14 January, the FIFA Referees Committee, meeting under the chairmanship of Jim Boyce (Northern Ireland), appointed 25 referee trios and eight support duos representing 43 different countries for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

FIFA has implemented a comprehensive programme to ensure that the referees for its flagship competition are in peak condition come 12 June. Between now and the World Cup, the selected group of match officials will participate in a number of seminars:

10 – 14 February 2014: Canary Islands (only referees)

24 – 28 March 2014: Home of FIFA Zurich (referees and assistant referees)

(Confederations: UEFA, AFC, OFC)

07 – 11 April 2014: Home of FIFA Zurich (referees and assistant referees)

(Confederations: CONMEBOL, CAF, CONCACAF)

01 – 10 June 2014: Rio de Janeiro (referees and assistant referees) The seminars will focus on the following:

- Protecting the players and the image of the game (fair-play)

- Guaranteeing consistency and uniformity of decisions

- Reading the game (technical/tactical approach)

- Understanding different football mentalities (knowledge of teams) Source: FIFA

Referees have been urged to aid the fight against match-fixing by adopting a 'Three Rs' principle – recognise, reject and report – to any approach made to manipulate a match. Officials have been reminded of their important roles in the campaign against match-fixing, and urged to conduct themselves in the appropriate way as representatives of UEFA, in presentations at the annual UEFA winter referees' courses in Lisbon, Portugal.

Men and women match officials attending the 22nd UEFA Advanced Course for Top Referees and the 23rd UEFA Introductory Course for International Referees were asked to follow the 'Three Rs' principle in relation to any attempt to involve them in manipulating a match – to recognise when an approach was being made, to resist any attempt to engage them by saying 'no', and to report, as an obligation, the incident to their national association or UEFA. The head of UEFA disciplinary and integrity matters, Emilio García, emphasised UEFA's zero-tolerance stance and the life-ban punishments handed down to those found guilty of match-fixing. He reminded the referees of the viewpoint of UEFA President Michel Platini – namely, that football's very existence would be very seriously threatened if the results of games began to be known in advance."Match-fixing is a global phenomenon, it is reality," said García. "It attacks the values, integrity, ethics and health of sport, and the integrity of competitions. As referees, you make a key contribution in the fight against match-fixing." García highlighted UEFA's work in this area. The European governing body has set up the betting fraud detection system (BFDS), which monitors more than 30,000 matches each year across Europe, including all UEFA competition fixtures as well as all domestic first and second-division games. A network of UEFA Integrity Officers is also in place – liaison officers between the football authorities and state law enforcement agencies in relation to suspected match-fixing. The integrity officers exchange information and experience with the UEFA administration, monitor disciplinary proceedings and coordinate relevant action, as well as organising education programmes for players, referees and coaches. In addition, UEFA has signed memorandums of understanding with betting companies. "The UEFA disciplinary bodies have been very active in this fight as well," said García. "Several clubs, players, officials and referees have been banned for these illicit activities. The principle of zero tolerance has been applied in all cases. The consequences of match-fixing are very serious for referees, coaches and players," he explained. "If you are caught, you are out of football. Please contact UEFA if you are approached. Don't ruin your career – it's not worth it".

The issue of integrity, honesty and proper conduct also featured strongly in a presentation by UEFA Referees Committee member David Elleray, who stressed to the new international referees the absolute necessity to act as a diplomat and ambassador and to show a great sense of responsibility while on UEFA and FIFA duty. "You will represent yourself, you will represent your country, your national association – but, ultimately, you now represent us at UEFA and FIFA," said Elleray, a former international referee himself. "That requires from you the highest quality of performance, not just technically on the field, but also diplomatically and as an ambassador outside the field. "If you don't behave well off the field, you can be sure that things will not go well on it," he added. "Your conduct off the field, away from the match, affects your reputation and our reputation. You are an ambassador for fair play and for football, and we want conduct from you of the highest level. And above all, your honesty and integrity should never be the subject of any question whatsoever".

Europe's new male and female international referees have been given a fascinating insight into what it means to have reached this level – and what modern football wants from today's referees.

Pierluigi Collina, the Italian who enjoyed an outstanding refereeing career which took in the biggest matches in Europe and worldwide before he assumed the role of UEFA chief refereeing officer, was the ideal figure to brief the refereeing 'rookies' at the start of the latest UEFA introductory course for international referees in Lisbon. In a wide-ranging and passionate presentation, Collina made the 44 men and women referees fully aware of what UEFA and the game expects from them when they are on European duty – clear and consistent decision-making; the ability to handle crisis moments; the fitness to produce high-quality performances; and the proper conduct to inspire budding referees who also aspire to have international careers. "Welcome to you," said Collina. "It is a big achievement for you and congratulations – but consider this just as a first step. It is a privilege for you to be a FIFA referee – but you must remember that you have to give something back to refereeing and all young referees who look at you. You should be a model for other referees through your behaviour and image." Collina spoke of the challenging job that modern referees face. "Football today is all about the decisions you take. There will be different opinions about your decisions. You will need to take a decision in less than one second. There will be pressure, coming from 90,000 people in the stadium; the pressure of knowing that millions of people are watching the game live on television; the pressure of the sporting and economic importance of the result, which could be affected by your decision – a decision which will be analysed and scrutinised after the match. You must be ready to deal with this and take on the responsibility." An innate self-confidence, knowing one's strengths and weaknesses, a determination to improve and learn from mistakes and an openness to change are essential parts of a referee's armoury, Collina reflected. He urged his audience to always be one step ahead and prepare diligently – for example, by studying teams' tactical systems or set-piece routines before a match to know how they may approach the game. Trust of a referee is a "must", the Italian explained. "It is important that a referee is accepted on the field of play, even if the players do not agree with the decision or if the decision is wrong," he added. "The players must be able to continue to trust in you." The need for preparation also applies in terms of referees' fitness for present-day football. Collina emphasised that speed has been the greatest change in the game in recent years – meaning that top officials need to be in optimum physical condition. "Today's referees must be athletes. They must be 100% fit to be lucid enough to take a decision even right at the end of a match," he stressed. Collina said that administering the Laws of the Game in the correct manner is imperative. He named two important areas in this respect. Firstly, referees have to be committed in protecting players and their health, for example, in the face of serious foul play. Secondly, match officials also have to act firmly and decisively against instances of mobbing of match officials by players. Just as players form a team, Collina concluded, the referees and assistants must also function as a solid unit. "Teamwork is vital – each of the team's performance is important. Support each other, help each other, and be aware that you will never decide alone".

In his welcome address, UEFA Referees Committee chairman Angel Maria Villar Llona wished the young referees every success in their careers. "We want you to be top referees," he said. "You must want this as well. Please make the most of this opportunity. UEFA is investing considerable resources in refereeing, and you are privileged and special to have been chosen. Never forget that you are international referees representing UEFA and your associations."

The president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Fernando Gomes, told the delegates: "It is a pleasure for us to be able to cooperate with UEFA in organising [this event] and fulfil the objectives and goals of the UEFA Referees Committee. I hope you can profit from this occasion to improve your knowledge and improve the quality of refereeing – because I am sure that through this, football will win for the future".